China Detains Dozens of Members of Underground Church

China Detains Dozens of Underground Church Members in Sweeping Crackdown

In a dramatic escalation of religious repression, Chinese authorities have detained nearly 30 pastors and staff members affiliated with Zion Church, one of the country’s most prominent underground Christian networks.

The arrests began on Thursday, October 9, 2025, and spanned at least six cities across China, signaling what many observers fear is the onset of a renewed wave of persecution against house churches.

Among those detained is Pastor Jin “Ezra” Mingri, the influential leader of Zion Church. On Friday evening, more than ten police officers raided his apartment in Beihai, located in the southeastern Guangxi province.

According to reports from the nonprofit organization ChinaAid, the officers searched his home throughout the night before taking him away in handcuffs. Pastor Jin, who is also the father of U.S. citizens, has long been a vocal advocate for religious freedom in China and previously led Beijing’s largest house church before it was shut down by authorities in 2018.

The crackdown did not stop with Pastor Jin. Church members have reported losing contact with over a dozen congregants in Beihai, raising fears that more individuals may have been secretly detained. One pastor was reportedly apprehended at the Shenzhen airport, suggesting that authorities are targeting church leaders across multiple provinces in a coordinated effort.

Family members and religious freedom advocates have expressed deep concern for the safety and wellbeing of those detained. Grace Jin, Pastor Jin’s daughter, told reporters that her father’s arrest was part of a broader campaign to silence Christian voices in China. She emphasized that “faith is not a crime,” echoing sentiments shared by ChinaAid President Bob Fu, who condemned the detentions as a violation of basic human rights.

Zion Church has operated outside the state-sanctioned religious system, which requires churches to register and submit to government oversight.

House churches like Zion often face harassment, surveillance, and closure, but the scale and coordination of this latest crackdown have alarmed international observers.

The detentions appear to be part of a broader strategy to suppress religious expression that does not conform to the Chinese Communist Party’s strict controls.

As of now, Chinese authorities have not issued a formal statement explaining the reasons for the arrests. The lack of transparency and the sudden nature of the detentions have left families and congregants in a state of uncertainty and fear.

International human rights organizations are calling for the immediate release of those detained and urging global leaders to hold China accountable for its actions.